Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). It is a month devoted to raising awareness about sexual violence, educating communities on how to prevent it, and promoting prevention efforts throughout the year. We take this time to honor survivors and inspire people to take action to end sexual violence.
We encourage you to participate in the SAAM events listed below and follow our @bewellwwu Instagram account for more information.
Every person deserves to be treated with love, dignity and respect.
Support for Western Students
If you are a Western student who is experiencing or has experienced relationship abuse, sexual violence, stalking or harassment, you are not alone and support is available through Western's Survivor Advocacy Services.
We are here to support you and help you heal from your experiences of violence/abuse. This service is for Western students. We affirm people of all identities and lived experiences. Please note, you do not have to identify yourself as a survivor or use the terms violence/abuse to describe your experience or in order to receive support.
If you are a concerned friend, partner, or family member of a Western student, support is also available for you.
Survivor Advocacy Services for Western Students
We also offer other support groups. If you are interested in joining a group, visit our Groups page for more information.
Off-campus Support/Faculty and Staff Resources
If you are looking for an off-campus resource or you are not a Western student, support is available.
After Silence
This is a support group for students who have experienced sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse. Members of this group can expect some discussions on trauma-informed coping and information about trauma responses followed by opportunity for group members to support one another. Some topics of discussion will likely include boundary-setting, healthy relationship dynamics, self-compassion, shame, and rebuilding trust. This group is available to and affirming of students of all sexual and gender identities.
Survivor Self-care Guide
There are many ways to feel, cope, and heal after experiencing sexual assault or an abusive relationship. Please feel free to download our Survivor Self-care Guide and use what resonates with you.
Take action by participating in SAAM events at Western throughout the month of April. Check back often for a list of upcoming events for 2025, and follow the @BeWellWWU account on Instagram for updates.
SAAM Kickoff in Red Square
Stop by our table in Red Square to help us kick off SAAM at WWU! Pick up a teal SAAM ribbon, resources to support survivors, SAAM coloring pages, and We Are All Worthy T-shirts while supplies last!
Porn Literacy and Consent Lunch & Learn
Join us for Porn & Corn, a student-led open discussion about something we often think of as private: pornography. This conversation will cover topics such as consent and how we are exposed to pornography as well as what is and isn't real about porn depictions of sex, especially related to consent and communication. Part of The Centers Lunch & Learn series.
Highly Consensual: Cannabis and Consent
Cannabis use can impact our perception, communication, and physical experiences, including sex. What does this mean in our relationships? Join WWU professors Dr. Mary Hunt and Dr. Josh Kaplan, two academic experts conducting research in sexual health, public health, cannabis, science, and the brain. They will share research on cannabis and consent and answer student questions about these topics. A Weed Awareness Week event.
Know Your Rights: Title IX at WWU
Join WWU’s Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance and Survivor Advocacy Services for a panel discussion to explore student support and resolution options available for those who have experienced sex and gender-based violence. Event is open to all but will be focused on student rights and options.
On-site support will be available from Counseling and Wellness Center therapists.
Trauma-informed Yoga
This workshop is designed to create a space for student survivors to participate in a trauma-informed yoga practice. The session offers a gentle yoga experience that focuses on mindfulness, breathwork, and restorative poses to promote physical and emotional well-being. The workshop is specifically tailored to address the unique needs of survivors, fostering a sense of community, self-compassion, and body awareness.
Resource & Repair: A Community Conflict
Join Raizel Sinason (they/them) in this trauma-informed workshop to explore the internal and external dimensions of conflict, as well as tools for building resilient communities capable of transforming harm.
Part of the Make.Shift Art Space Scene Safety workshop series.
De-escalation & Regulation Workshop
Join Make.Shift Art Space Education Director Beth Girma to learn de-escalation skills through a harm reduction and intersectional lens, while also learning about the internal mechanisms of crisis and emotional regulation.
Part of the Make.Shift Art Space Scene Safety workshop series.
Supporting Survivors w/Jessyca Murphy
Join Jessyca Murphy, director of the Make.Shift Art Space, for this workshop covering the basics of trauma-informed communication, skills for fostering empowerment, and exercises for taking care of yourself while supporting others, followed by a Q&A panel with Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) and the WWU Counseling and Wellness Center. A portion of the proceeds from this workshop will go towards supporting DVSAS.
Part of the Make.Shift Art Space Scene Safety workshop series.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Flyer
Download the Sexual Assault Awareness Month flyer to post in your department and help us spread the word about our upcoming events.
Faculty/Staff Guide to Supporting Students
Download this resource for guidance on how to best support student survivors. Includes important information around faculty/staff reporting requirements.
Supporting Friends Who Are Survivors
Download this resource for guidance on how to best support your friends if they are not feeling safe in a relationship and/or experienced violence.
Consent Guidebook
Download this resource to access accurate information about consent and sexual communication in order to support you in your relationships.
Healthy Relationships Checklist
Download this resource to help you assess which areas of your relationships are strong and which may need some attention.
